American Men Surge at the US Open, Alcaraz v Shelton Blockbuster Looms & Women’s Heavyweights Hold Firm

The US Open is into the business end, and the American men are making serious noise in New York.Chris and Adam break down the runs of Tiafoe, Michelsen, Shelton and Tien, including whether Shelton can finally get past Carlos Alcaraz in what shapes as a blockbuster quarter-final.Alcaraz has dropped just one set and barely been tested, but does that make him the man to beat, or is Shelton about to expose where his level really sits after four months away?We also look at Zverev’s path through the top half, Tien’s chances of making a deep run, and whether the early five-set battles could eventually catch up with the German.On the women’s side, the top seeds continue to hold firm. We preview Rybakina v Osaka, Swiatek v Zheng, Gauff v Jovic and Sabalenka v Noskova before giving our updated men’s and women’s title picks.Plus, the usual chance for our predictions to age horribly over the next 48 hours.You gotta earn your serves.